Transfer mechanism



F. P. SHARPE TRANSFER MECHANISM May 21, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet .1

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'INVENTOR. FREDERICK P. SHARPE ATTORNEYS May 21, 1957 F. P. SHARPE TRANSFER MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 1, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

FREDERICK P; SHARPE ATTOR NEYS United States Patent 2,792,921 TRANSFER .MECHANISM Frederick P. Sharpe, Dear-born, Mich, assignor to Kelsey- Hayes Company, a corporation of Delaware Original application February 25, 1952, Serial No.

273,187. "LDividedandjthis application June 1, 1954,

Serial No.,433, 457

4 Claims. (Cl. 198--19) improved transfer mechanism which is simple in construction and effective in operation.

The invention has for another object to provide a transfer mechanism which intermittently transfers the articles from one station to a succeeding station and accurately positions the articles at the succeeding station.

The invention has for further objects to provide an improved transfer devicehaving article engaging and positloning abutments which are adjustably mounted; and to provide an improved transfer device having positioning abutments which in addition to being adjustably mounted are individually reversible to handle articles of difierent diameters.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in section illustrating the transfer mechanism embodying the invention;

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are top plan views of successive portions of the transfer mechanism;

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are corresponding side elevations thereof;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively front and rear end views thereof;

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Figure 20;

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged cross sections on the line 7--7 and 8-8 respectively of Figure 2A;

' Figure9 is an enlarged cross section on the line 9-9 of Figure 2A.

The present application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 273,187, filed February 25, 1952.

As illustrated in the present instance, the transfer mechanism is designed to intermittently advance wheel body and rim assemblies to successive work stations at which are located an assembling and piercing machine, a rivet inserting machine and a rivet heading machine.

The transfer mechanism comprises the supporting frame work 1, the transfer member 2 reciprocably mounted on the frame work, and the fluid pressure operated cylinder 3 operatively connected to the transfer member for intermittently reciprocating the member.

The supporting frame work has the horizontal spaced 'parallel supports 4 which extend past and more particularly through the Work stations A, B and C which are equally spaced from each other and arranged in line and at which are located the assembling and piercing 2,792 ,92 l Patented May 21, 1957 ice machine 5, the .rivetinserting machine 6 and the rivet heading machine 7 which are diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1.' The assembling and piercing machine is practically of the same construction as illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 121,866, filed October 17, 1949, Patent No. 2,594,506, issued April 29, 1952,

and the rivet heading machine is similar in construction to the assembling and piercing machine using rivet heading mechanism instead of piercing mechanism. The rivet inserting machine is practically of the same construction as illustrated in my copending application, Serial No.

157,793, filed April 24, 1950. These machines have vertical axes with which the axes of the wheel body and rim assemblies register, and in the present instance the verticalaxes of .the machine are in line.

The transfer member 2 is a .U-shaped slide having the spaced parallel bars 8, the transverse bar 9 only at the front ends of the bars 8, the devices 1.0, 11 and 12 on the transfer slide for laterally and longitudinally positioning the wheel body and rim assemblies with respect to the transfer slide and the ejector device 13 on the transfer slide for-ejectingthe wheel body and rim assemblies.

The device IOcomprisesthe abutment bars 14 and 15 and the upright pair of pins 16 and intermediate pin 17. The abutment bars 14 and 15 are opposed with one adjustably mounted on and secured to each bar .non-symmetrically disposed .with respect to or offset at different distances from the longitudinal centers of the slots 21. Theabutment bar 15 has the laterally inner and outer shoulders 22 and 23 for engaging the rim and laterally positioning the same with respect to the transfer slide. The abutment bar also has the transverse slots 24 at its ends for receiving the boltsfor securing the abutment bar to its bar 8. The shoulders 22 and .23 arenon-symmetn'cally .disposedwith respect to or offset at different distances from the longitudinal centers of the slots 24. Both of the abutment bars 14 and 15 are secured to the bars 8 with their laterally inner shoulders spaced laterally outwardly from the laterally inner edges of the bars 8 so that the bars 8 engage the rim and support the wheel body and rim assembly. The construction of the abutment bars provides for adjustab ly securing the abutment bars to their respective bars .of the transfer slide and also provides for individually reversing the abutment bars so that they can locate the wheel body and rim assembly laterally of the transfer slide within the desired limits and they may be used with wheel body and rim assemblies of different diameters. The pair of upright pins 16 and the intermediate upright pin 17 are mounted on the rear ends of the side fingers 25 and intermediate finger 26. The fingers extend transversely rearwardly of the transverse bar 9 and into downwardly opening channels of the clamp 27 which is secured to the transverse bar 9 and clamps the fingers thereagainst. The construction is such that the fingers are adjustable longitudinally of the transfer frame. The pair of upright pins 16 are positioned to engage opposite sides of a spoke of a wheel body and the intermediate upright pin 17 is adapted to engage the valve stem ho'le ofthe rim whereby the wheel body and rim are predeterminedly angularly positioned with respect to each other and the transfer slide. Also, the fingers being adjustable longitudinally of the transfer slide predeterminedly longitudinally position the wheel body and rim with respect to the transfer slide.

The construction of the device is such that the abutment bars 14 and 15 laterally position the rim with respect to the transfer slide and the pins 16 and 17 longitudinally position the rim with respect to the transfer slide as Well as anguilarly position the wheel body and rim with respect to each other and the transfer slide.

The device 1'1 comprises the abutment bars 28 and 29 which are opposed with one adjustably mounted on and secured to each bar 8 so that the abutment bars may be adjustably moved toward and away from each other. The abutment bars respectively have the recesses 30 and 31 in their laterally inner or opposed edges for receiving diametrically opposite portions of a rim, each recess having inclined sides for engaging a rim and positioning the same both laterally and longitudinally of the transfer slide. The abutment bar 28 also carries the diagonally arranged pins 32 which extend transversely of the sides of the recess and converge laterally inwardly of the transfer slide and are slidably mounted in the abutment bar and are urged laterally inwardly by means of the coil springs 33 but held from disengagement from the abutment bar by the heads upon the pins engageable with the work station C to engage the rim of the wheel body and rim assembly at this station upon rearward movement of the transfer slide and at the rearward end of the stroke is positioned to discharge the transferred wheel body and rim assembly onto a conveyor at the rear end of the support for the transfer slide.

The fluid pressure operated cylinder 3 for reciprocating the transfer slide comprises the cylinder 36 which extends longitudinally of and is fixedly mounted on the support 4 at one side thereof and the piston rod 37 which is secured to a piston slidably within the cylinder 36. The rod extends through both ends of the cylinder and is secured at its free ends to the brackets 38 which extend over the supports 4 and are secured to the adjacent bar ti of the transfer slide 2. To control the stroke so that the transfer slide will be reciprocated the same distance as that between adjacent work stations, each end of the piston rod extends beyond its bracket and is adapted to abut the stop pin 39 which is adjustably secured to the bracket 40 mounted upon the support.

In operation and assuming the transfer slide 2 to be in its forward position, a rim is placed upon the bars 8 of the transfer slide between and engaging the abutment shoulders of the bars 14 and 15 of the positioning device 14) and with its valve stem hole engaged by the intermediate pin 17 of the positioning device. The wheel body is then placed upon the rim with opposite sides of a spoke the shoulders in the bores in the abutment bar for receiving the pins. The pins are adapted to extend slightly over the lower tire retaining flange of the rim to yieldably hold the rim down. The abutment bars are secured to their bars 8 locating the rim receiving recesses over the bars 8 so that a rim positioned by the inclined sides of the recesses rests upon and is supported by the bars 8.

The device 12 is constructed and operates in the same manner as the device 11.

The ejector device 13 is located at the rear end of the transfer slide and comprises the ledges 34 and abutment blocks fixedly secured to the rear ends of the bar 8. The ledges are adapted to engage under the adjacent portions of a rim and slightly raise the rim and the abutment blocks are adapted to engage and push the rim with its wheel body along and off the support 4.

The devices 10, 1'1 and 12 are spaced from each other longitudinally of the transfer slide the same distance as the distance between the work stations A, B and C so that when the transfer slide is reciprocated through this distance the devices at the forward end of the stroke are in positions to receive the wheel body and rim assemblics and at the rearward end of the stroke are in positions registering the assemblies within the necessary limits with the adjacent rearwardly located Work stations. More particularly, the device 10 at the forward end of the stroke is in loading position or at the loading station to receive a rim and a wheel body loosely assembled with the rim, and this device at the rearward end of the stroke is positioned in registration with the work station A to register within the necessary limits the transferred loose assembly of rim and wheel body with this work station. The device 11 at the forward end of the stroke is positioned in registration with the work station A to receive the wheel body and rim assembly at this work station and at the rearward end of the stroke is positioned in registration with the work station B to register the transferred wheel body and rim assembly within the necessary limits with this work station. The device 12 at the forward end of the stroke is positioned in registration with the work station B to receive the Wheel body and rim assembly at this work station, and at the rearward end of the stroke is positioned in registration with the work station C to register the transferred Wheel body and rim assembly within the necessary limits with this work station. Also, the ejecting device 13 at the forward end of the stroke is positioned forwardly of engaged by the fingers 16 of the positioning device. The transfer device is then moved to its rearward position by admitting fluid under pressure such as air to the forward end of the cylinder 36. At this time the wheel body and rim assembly are in registration with the work station A and more particularly the assembling and piercing machine 5. The mechanism of this machine for raising the wheel body and rim assembly is put into operation and the Wheel body and rim are telescoped after which the ends of the spokes of the wheel body and the base of the rim are pierced to form rivet holes. During this operation the transfer frame is moved in the forward direction by admitting compressed air to the rear end of the cylinder 36 to again receive a loose assembly of rim and wheel body and locate the positioning device 11 next in rear of the positioning device 10 in registration with the work station A and more particularly the assembling and piercing machine 5 so that when the raising and lowering mechanism is operated the pierced wheel body and rim assembly will be deposited on the transfer slide and in the positioning device 11. Then the transfer slide is again moved rearwardly to position the loose wheel body and rim assembly in registration with the station A and more particularly the assembling and piercing machine 5 and the pierced wheel body and rim assembly in registration with the work station B and more particularly the rivet inserting machine 6. At this time the raising and lowering mechanisms of the assembling and piercing machine and the rivet inserting machine are put into operation to raise the assemblies, after which the assembling and piercing machine carries out its assembling and piercing steps and the rivet inserting machine carries out its steps of inserting rivets into the pierced holes. During this time, the transfer slide is again moved forwardly to register the devices 11 and 12 with the work stations A and B to respectively receive the pierced assembly and the rivet inserted assembly and to position the device 10 to receive the loose assembly. The transfer slide is then moved rearwardly to its rear position to register the rivet inserted assembly with the work station C and more particularly the rivet heading machine 7, the pierced *assem "bly with the work station B and more particularly the insertion of the rivets is carried out by the rivet inserting machine and the rivets are headed by the rivet heading machine. During this time, the transfer slide is moved to its forward position after which the loose assembly is placed in the device it the pierced and riveted inserted assemblies are deposited in the devices 11 and 12 respectively and the headed over riveted assembly is deposited in rear of the ejector device 13. Then the transfer slide is moved rearwardly to transfer or advance the assemblies during which the ejector device moves the completed assembly to the conveyor at the rear end of the support for the transfer slide. This transfer cycle may be continued as long as desired.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Mechanism for transferring articles from one worl station to another comprising a reciprocable member having spaced parallel bars and a transverse bar, opposed spaced abutment bars on said parallel bars and having shoulders for engaging and positioning the articles on said parallel bars, said shoulders being spaced from the laterally inner edges of said parallel bars, laterally and longitudinally spaced upright pins longitudinally adjustably mounted on said transverse bar for longitudinally and angularly positioning an article on said parallel bars between said abutment bars, and means for reciprocating said member from a position locating said upright pins in position to engage an article at one work station to a position locating said upright pins in position to locate an article at the other work station.

2. Mechanism for transferring articles from one work station to another comprising a reciprocable member, opposed spaced abutment bars on said member, each of said abutment bars having spaced oppositely facing shoulders, means for alternatively removably adjustably securing each abutment bar to said member in positions with its shoulders respectively facing the other bar for engaging and positioning the articles, one of said abutment bars having downwardly diverging article guiding faces leading to the shoulders thereof, and means for reciprocating said member from a position at the forward end of the stroke locating said abutment bars in position to engage an article at one work station to a position at the rearward end of the stroke locating said abutment bars in position to locate an article at the other work station.

3. Mechanism for transferring articles from one work station to another comprising a reciprocable member having spaced parallel bars, opposed spaced abutment bars on said parallel bars and having shoulders facing each other for engaging and positioning the articles on said parallel bars, said shoulders being spaced from the laterally inner edges of said parallel bars, one of said abutment bars having a shoulder spaced from the firstmentioned shoulder thereon and downwardly diverging article guiding faces leading to said first-mentioned and last-mentioned shoulders, means for alternatively removably securing said one abutment bar to the associated one of said parallel bars in positions with its first-mentioned and last-mentioned shoulders respectively facing the other abutment bar for engaging and positioning the articles, and means for reciprocating said member from a position at the forward end of the stroke locating said abutment bars in position to engage an article at one work station to a position at the rearward end of the stroke locating said abutment bars in position to locate an article at the other work station.

4. Mechanism for transferring articles from one Work station to another comprising a reciprocable member, opposed spaced abutment bars on said member having shoulders facing each other for engaging and positioning the articles on said member, one of said abutment bars having a shoulder spaced from the first-mentioned shoulder thereon and downwardly diverging article guiding faces leading to said first-mentioned and. last-mentioned shoulders, means for alternatively removably securing said one abutment bar to said member in positions with its first-mentioned and last-mentioned shoulders respectively facing the other bar for engaging and positioning the articles, and means for reciprocating said member from a position locating said abutment bars in position to engage an article at one Work station to a position locating said abutment bars in position to locate an article at the other work station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,577,627 Webster Mar. 23, 1926 2,193,840 Oberhoffken et al. Mar. 19, 1940 2,650,696 Gedris Sept. 1, 1953 

